Raising a child in today's society with desirable character traits can present many challenges.

Impatience and intolerance emerge at an early age, bullying is an everyday term, and a sense of entitlement is common, even in young children.

A family must-have is "The Children's Book of Virtues," by Wm. J Bennett (Simon and Schuster). In it, Bennett describes moral education as "training of the heart and mind toward the good," he also includes "the do's and don'ts of life."

Bennett underscores the 10 most important virtues — self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, courage, perseverance, honesty, loyalty and faith through simple storytelling. These — and all other character traits — are taught by example and practice, which shape and develop the moral values we most admire.

Many of these values were encompassed in one phrase that was shared with my teen years ago. It has carried with us both ever since.

As a high school student studying professional performing arts in New York City, her acting coach said, "you are enough." She explained that, once you learn your lines, you study your character, until you fully understand your character's emotions. Combined with training, skill and talent, "you are enough."

Capitalizing on that phrase, I repeated it whenever my daughter struggled with peer pressure, our divorce or goal setting challenges. It reminded her that, if she did what she knew to be right, she would prevail because she is enough.

We crafted a beautiful, wooden plaque, lettering her phrase carefully, and hung it as a reminder by a satin ribbon in her bedroom. That simple phrase has taken her far in life.

Recently, I came across an extended version written by Molly Mahar.

While working with a group of women who were striving to develop parenting skills, I shared my daughter's story and then read the following:

"I am enough. I am full of sparkle and compassion. I genuinely want to make the world a better place. I can accomplish difficult things. I practice kindness. I'm not afraid of the truth. I am loyal, adventurous, supportive and surprising. I am enough. I make mistakes, but I own them and I learn from them. Sometimes I make a lot of mistakes."

Inspire your child by modeling those traits.

Reinforce "If it's wrong, don't do it."

Teach your child to find value in others, with encouragement to reach out to help another.

Minimize negativity, and be the positive influence.

Teach your child to sparkle.

Diana Boggia, M.Ed., is a parenting coach who lives in Stark County. She is author of "Parenting with a Purpose." Send your child-rearing questions to FamilyMatters@cantonrep.com or The Repository, c/o Family Matters, 500 Market Ave. S, Canton OH 44702. Find parenting resources at her website, www.yourperfectchild.com.